Hughes’ challenge
to election rivals
by David Skentelbery
MIKE Hughes, former leader of Warrington Borough Council, who is standing as a candidate in the General Election in the Warrington North constituency, has issued a challenge to his rivals.
He wants all the other candidates in Warrington North to meet him for a public debate on the issues in the election.
Mr Hughes is standing for the Community Action Party – the Wigan-based grassroots local issues party which has rocked the controlling Labour Group on Wigan Borough Council over the last two years.
The CAP has not contested a Parliamentary election before but is fielding two candidates in Wigan and Mr Hughes in Warrington. It is the second largest group on Wigan Council and last year came close to taking control in the traditional Labour stronghold.
Mr Hughes said: “I am issuing a challenge to all the candidates in Warrington North for a public debate on the issues in the election.
“I think it is important for the electors of Warrington to get a chance to see the calibre of the candidates and, hopefully, elect someone to speak up for Warrington in Parliament and not merely act as a mouthpiece for Tony Blair.” Mr Hughes predicted none of his opponents would agree to the public debate.
A spokesman for Helen Jones, who held the seat with a majority of 16,156 at the last General Election in 2001, said: “We cannot accept the challenge because we already have our campaign programme mapped out.” Mr Hughes, quit the Labour Party after a bitter row following his “de-selection” as a borough council candidate by regional party chiefs.
He stood against Labour as an Independent in last year’s council elections and has announced his intention of standing in the next council elections as a CAP representative.
CAP have formed a branch in Warrington and Mr Hughes has been elected its leader.
The five candidates in Warrington North are Helen Jones (Lab), Andrew Ferryman (Con), Peter Walker (Lib Dem), John Kirkham (UKIP), and Mike Hughes (CAP).
At the last election in 2001, the results were: Helen Jones (Lab) 24,026; James Usher (Con) 8,870; Roy Smith (Lib Dem) 5,232; John Kirkham (UKIP) 782.
Town building projects
scoop “quality” awards
BUILDING organisations in Warrington have scooped a series of top awards in this year’s Cheshire “Built in Quality” Awards.
The award ceremony is one of the highlights of the building trade calendar and was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Warrington, Coun Ted and Pat Lafferty.
Several building organisations were highlighted for praise, scooping awards in a variety of categories for their work in Warrington.
A Warrington nomination, for Lymm Water Tower, also scooped one of the top regional awards for Cheshire – The Cheshire Award for Building Excellence.
TV producer Andrew Harris was given the award for the innovative and unique restoration and development of Lymm Water Tower and, as a result, they have now been nominated for a national award due to be announced later this year.
The winners were:
Cheshire Award Winner – Building Excellence: Mr Russell Harris and family, for their Lymm Water Tower restoration/development.
Multiple Housing Winners: McDonaldwood Construction Ltd – Reddish Hall Barns, Grappenhall. Countryside Properties Ltd – Trinity Green, Church Street, Warrington. Cheshire Property Developments Ltd – New Development, Culcheth.
Commercial Development Winners: Clovemead Ltd – Halliwell Jones BMW ‘Mini’ Showroom.
Domestic Category Winners: CAB Building Services – Residential Extension. Wesleyan Builders – Residential Extension. Clive Pugh – Residential Extension.
The event is organised by the local authority Building Control teams of Warrington, Chester, Crewe and Nantwich, Congleton, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Halton, Macclesfield and Vale Royal.
Ray Parker, Building Control Manager at Warrington Borough Council, said: “The awards continue to recognise and encourage the high quality building work carried out in Warrington.
“All the award winners have shown excellence in the delivery of their service and this can only be good news for all involved in the building industry.”
Dare-devil kids risk
chemical hazards
by David Skentelbery
DARE-Devil children at Warrington are putting themselves in serious danger by repeatedly entering derelict factory buildings at night and starting fires.
For the second night running, firefighters were called to Howley Lane when fire broke out in a 60m X 60m warehouse littering with containers of dangerous chemicals.
Fire crews had to wear breathing apparatus to combat dense smoke inside the building.
A spokesman said: “There were bottles of chemicals lying around on the floor – including some very nasty chemicals.
“We have got to establish who owns these buildings and get them cleared out. Ideally they should be demolished as soon as possible.
“Children are going in and starting these fires and sooner or later one is going to be seriously hurt. Parents should ensure their youngsters keep away from this area. It is highly dangerous for us to go inside in protective clothing and wearing breathing apparatus. It is even more dangerous for these kids.”
Early successes for
new police unit
by David Skentelbery
THE new Neighbourhood Policing Unit which covers the South Warrington area got off to a good start.
On its first day in operation a prolific local burglar was arrested and a cannabis “factory” was discovered.
This was revealed by Insp Stuart Woodcock, who leads the unit, when he attended Appleton’s annual parish meeting.
Insp Woodcock said 19 police officers, including three sergeants, were now based at Stockton Heath Police Station to cover the South Warrington area.
Five Community Support Officers (CSOs) were also based at the police station, which was open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
When the station was closed an outside telephone was available to enable members of the public to contact the police.
Insp Woodcock said the CSOs were proving a valuable asset in helping police the area, working closely with the Community Action Team.
In the near future, Community Action Meetings would be held in the various parishes when residents would be able to discuss local policing issues with officers, identify problems and consider suitable action to deal with them.
The inspector stressed that a handful of offenders were responsible for most crimes in the area – and that the police knew who most of them were. But successful policing relied very much on information from the public. The hope was that Neighbourhood Policing would enable the public to get to know who their local police and CSOs were.
Parish council
by-election
by staff reporter
A BY-ELECTION is to be held to fill a vacant seat on Appleton Parish Council.
The poll – necessary because 10 local electors have requested an election – is for the Hillcliffe Ward seat made vacant by the resignation of former councillor Alaister Day, Conservative, who has left the area.
He had been a member of the council for some years and was chairman of the planning committee. He was, until last year, also a member of Stockton Heath Parish Council.
The date of the election has not yet been fixed.
Art group’s
spring show
by staff reporter
GRAPPENHALL Library will be playing host to the Warrington Art Group’s Spring exhibition, which starts on Saturday May 7.
The exhibition, which runs until June 11, will showcase about 30 pieces of work on a variety of subjects and there will be a chance for visitors to buy some of the pictures.
For more details ring the library on 01925 262861. Opening times are Monday and Wednesday 2pm-8pm, Thursday 2pm-5pm and Saturday 9.30am -1pm.
News in brief
Annual meeting
TH
E annual general meeting of the Lumb Brook Millennium Green Trust takes place on May 11 at Broomfields Junior School, Bridge Lane, Appleton.
Members of the public are invited to the 6.30pm meeting when proposals for the future development of the green will be discussed.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 3, 5, 11 and 15. There was no winner for the ?140 jhackpot and the consolation prize of ?25 went to Jane Ellison. An extra prize of a garden centre voucher was won by Ann Marie.
Pedestrian crossing
A TEMPORARY pedestrian crossing has been provided in Golborne Street, Warrington, just north of its junction with Regent Street to help vulnerable road users while construction work is carried out on the extension to the Golden Square Shopping Centre and the new bus station.
Road closure
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order introducing a temporary road closure in Dunlop Street, Warrington from Tuesday (April 26) while a new manhole is constructed in the road. An alternative route via Hillberry Crescent and Adamson Street will be signposted.
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